STEVE BURNS used to host the kids' TV show Blue's Clues, where he ran around with an imaginary dog and spent his days humming something called "The Skidoo Song." Today, he hangs out with the Flaming Lips. "I do think there is some thread of logic there," Burns says with a laugh. Yes, strangely enough, there is. But what's even stranger is Songs For Dustmites, the new album Burns has made with the Lips' Michael Ivins and Steven Drozd. What's weird is that the record is actually really good - so good, in fact, that A.P. phoned Burns to give him a spiritual high-five.

Steve, I'm surprised. Your record is good.

Well, thank you. Really, I mean that. This record has been an absolute dream come true, Doing this record with Steven and recording with [longtime Flaming Lips producer] Dave Fridmann was obviously a big thrill for me. In my opinion, those guys are at the absolute top of their field. There were times where I was shitting my pants, sure, but when an opportunity like that comes up, you just go for it.

Well, duh

Right. If you can get Godzilla to play drums and have him sit down on the floor and write songs with you, then you're in pretty good shape.

I guess so. Hey, I heard you're in this movie Christmas On Mars that [Lips frontman] Wayne Coyne is filming.

Yeah, I'm responsible for destroying a spaceship and generally looking ashamed. That's pretty much my part. The part that he wanted me to play, though, was that of a man delivering a monologue in which it is revealed that he is not wearing pants and there is a rocket in his butt. I passed on that. It didn't seem like the logical next step from children's television.

No, it's not. Writing a record with grown men who like to dress up like stuffed animals is.

It is! [Laughs.] I really do have a unique perspective on the concept of plush, now. I've really run the gamut, haven't I?

[Songs For Dustmites is out Aug. 12 on [PIAS] America. For more on Christmas On Mars and Steve Burns' life in general, visit steveswebpage.com.]